Euro 2016: Owen tips England to beat Russia - but not win tournament

The Euros kick off tomorrow (Friday) with hosts France the 3/10 favourites to beat Romania in the competition’s curtain-raiser at the Stade de France.

The French famously won the last tournament they hosted on home soil, the 1998 World Cup, when led by Didier Deschamps – and the 47-year-old returns 18 years later in the hot-seat with his country the 3/1 favourites with BetVictor to reign supreme this summer.

The opening game of any major tournament is always cagey as you are desperate to avoid defeat, but this England side must be bold and attack and I think they will gain three valuable points.

Michael Owen

BetVictor will be giving away £1m as part of our Million Pound Goal campaign on the final on July 10; to earn your predictions simply place a £5 qualifying bet on the Euros with BetVictor.

World champions Germany can potentially meet the hosts in the semi-final stages, which has led punters to back defending champions Spain in the other half of the draw.

The Spanish have arguably gone backwards since their 2010 and 2012 successes but they remain popular in the market and are now as short as 5/1 having been as big as 13/2 just a matter of weeks ago.

Euros 2016 Outright prices from

France 3/1

Germany 4/1

Spain 5/1 (from 6s)

England 9/1

Belgium 10/1

18/1 Bar

England were flawless in qualifying, ensuring a safe passage to Euro 2016 with an unblemished record, with Roy Hodgson’s side winning ten from 10 and cut to 9/1 from 16s with BetVictor to end 50 years of hurt.

The Three Lions haven’t tasted international success since Bobby Moore led the World Cup aloft at Wembley in 1966. Wayne Rooney skippers this side this time round, but has been uneasy with partners in the opening half of the year thus far; eased to 11/4 to be England’s leading goalscorer at the Euros and 40/1 with BetVictor to be the tournament’s leading marksman in France.

Rooney remains 1/10 to start against Russia on Saturday but where? With Harry Kane given the nod to lead the line up front, it means the England skipper looks set to play in a deeper role either behind Kane or in midfield alongside the Spurs pair of Eric Dier and Dele Alli.

The pair look guaranteed of their spots in the starting line-up whilst the quintet of Raheem Sterling, Jamie Vardy, James Milner Adam Lallana and Jack Wilshere battle out for the two remaining spots in midfield.

Wilshere is even money with BetVictor to start in Marseille and will likely anchor a mouthwatering midfield alongside North London rival Eric Dier, allowing team-mate Dele Alli to push further forward.

A three-pronged attack of Dele Alli, Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane should punish a vulnerable Russian defence and England warrant supporting at 37/40 to kick-off their Euros campaign with a win; Russia 4/1 and the draw 23/10.

BetVictor brand ambassador Michael Owen thinks England aren’t yet good enough to go all the way at the top level, predicting they will go out at the quarter-final stages, but he does expect Roy Hodgson’s side to beat Russia and fancies them to win despite conceding at the other end.

BetVictor are 18/5 for England to win and both teams to score on Saturday, whilst Owen personally put up the 2-1 correct score at 17/2.

Owen said: “The Three Lions should have too much for Russia who were dealt a blow when Igor Denisov limped off against Serbia on Sunday. The opening game of any major tournament is always cagey as you are desperate to avoid defeat, but this England side must be bold and attack and I think they will gain three valuable points.”

It will be fascinating to see what formation England start with; whether they opt to deploy the diamond that has worked so well in qualifying or to play the likes of Alli, Vardy and Rooney out of position on the flanks.

Alli has been a revelation this term for Spurs, developing a wonderful partnership with Spurs team-mate Kane up front, and will hopefully be given the chance to continue their double-act against in the Group B opener.

Kane heads the market as the 4/1 favourite to both score the first goal and be named the man of the match, but Alli looks over-priced at 9/1 with BetVictor to break the deadlock in Marseille and 4/1 to net anytime in an England win.

Kane scored 25 PL goals this term and has been backed to con

For all the latest odds head to BetVictor.com ... be lucky

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